Nested Metaphors

A Writing Exercise

We have had blue skies all week, but it is still winter. Cold air rushes in every time I let Leonard out into the yard. It’s frustrating to be sofa-bound recovering from surgery, but I can’t deny somewhat enjoying the luxury of writing on my laptop while my partner does all the heavy lifting for a while. I hope this email finds you healthy and warm.

This week’s exercise is all about the nested metaphor.

Nested metaphor is my own term for this poetic device. I’ve also called them telescoping metaphors. I guess it matters if you are travelling inward or outward?

I discovered this poetic device when I was (briefly) studying Arab poetry forms. This nested, telescoping or linking metaphors are a common technique used in the qasida, a poetry form whose structure somewhat resembles a hero’s journey.

The poem begins with a single tenor (the object the metaphor will expound upon) and its vehicle. For example, Love (object) is a warm puppy (vehicle). In this case the vehicle warm puppy would become a tenor for a new vehicle: Love is a warm puppy, is a snow day when you’re twelve.

And so on.

Writing nested metaphors is almost like writing couplets or limericks: so satisfying.

Give it a go. See how far you can take them. Maybe you can bring them full circle like a wreath of sonnets?

Ask yourself: What does the poem gain from this kind of play? What does it lose?

---

I hope you’ve found the exercise helpful. I would love to hear about any little twist you may have added, and what you discovered! Please leave a comment, or join the chat.
Thank you again for supporting Dramatic Roots!

Warmly,
Ren

Spread the love. It only takes a little ❤️